Loose leaf binder



March 30, 1 937.

RAND 2,075,766

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Aug. @14, 1931 Fig.1

4 Sheets-Sheet l Q 1 gwuentoz enjoin 6. Rand,

March 30, 1937. B. G. RAND LOOSE LEAF BINDER 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Augfi 14, 1951 Jww1ot Be njomm 6. Rand @w ww y- March 30, 1937. q, RAND v 2,075,766

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Aug. 14, ,1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 35 2322 2\ 23 22 Ben 'aminGRQnd.

March 30, 1937. B. G. RAND 2,075,766

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Aug. 14, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Benjamin 6. Rand, h

iatented Mar.

PATENT OFFICE LOOSE LEAF BINDER Benjamin G. Rand, North Tonawanda, N. Y., as-

signor to Remington Rand Inc., Buffalo, N. Y.

Application August 14, 1931, Serial No. 557,161

13 Claims.

This invention relates to loose leaf binders and has particular relation to that class of binders having means for releasably engaging a plurality of loose leaves in such manner that they may readily be examined, removed or replaced.

The present invention comprehends a binder having a pair of cover members movably connected to a pair of sliding plates which carry the binder posts, the plates sliding over an arcuate surface of a guide member so, that the posts may be brought to a full overlapped position to positively retain loose leaves in tightly compressed relation; or by sliding movement, brought to a position wherein the posts are in only slightly overlapped position in which space is provided for the leaves to be separated for examination; or by still further sliding movement to a position wherein the opposing binder posts are separated to allow space therebetween for the insertion or 20 removal of loose leaves.

junction with the sliding plates to control the ,movement of the sliding plate members and to releasably latch them in certain positions to which they may be moved. The advantages of the invention reside in the elimination of many parts which were required in binders of this general type, heretofore constructed, and which were necessary to the proper control, including movement of the prong carrying members and latching of them in certain positions. Further advantages are that the movement of the sliding plate members need not necessarily be limited to movement about some hinge or pivot axis as has been necessary in binders which have before been constructed.

Heretofore certain types of loose leaf binders have been proposed in which the leaves were considerably narrower than the width of the covers so that they might be mounted in an overlapped, offset relationship with their lower or upper edges visible, in order that index indicia occurring on such edges of the leaves might be visible when the binder was open. As it is often necessary to insert new leaves into or remove leaves from such a binder it is desirable to provide means to shift the remaining leaves so that the overlapping leaves will all be equally and properly spaced, and will occur in proper sequence. To this end the present invention contemplates a structure in which the binder posts, or some of them, are secured to .a binder bar which may be shifted longitudinally of the sliding plate member, in order that, upon opening of the binder,

Means are provided which operate in con- I the loose leaves may be shifted to the desired position.

These and other objects and advantages, including those arising from the arrangement and structure of the component parts of the device, 5

which enable the device to be readily assembled and easily actuated, will become apparent from the following description of one typical embodiment of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a completed binder equipped with a plurality of loose leaves, the binder being depicted in open position; with the binder prongs in closed or fully overlapped position. V 15 Fig. 2 isa fragmentary view, also in plan, showing the covers in open position and the binder prongs in partially closed or partially overlapped position; the loose leaves shown in Fig. 1 being omitted.

Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal vertical section taken through the center of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the parts being shown in the rela tive positions wherein the binder posts or prongs are in spaced apart or fully open position.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the parts in the relative positions they may occupy when the binder prongs are in slightly overlapped or partially .open position.

Fig. 5 is a plan sectional view of the portion of the device shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view of the binder shown in the preceding figure, the covers being in closed position and the binder prongs being in fully overlapped or closed position.

Fig. '7 is a vertical sectional view taken at right angles to views 3, 4 and 5 showing the covers in open position and the binder prongs in partially open or partially overlapped position.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. '7 but showing the binder prongs infully open or spaced relation.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view similar to Fig. 2, certain portions of the binder construction being removed.

Fig. 10 is a disassembled viewof the back binder member and the operating bar for effecting movement of the binder posts.

By reference to the drawings it will be seen that the binder comprises a back member or base member 20 to which is fitted a composition covering 2| (see Figs. 6 and 10). The back member has upstanding ears 22 having vertically elongated slots 23v therein, through which supporting or operating pins v24 project. An elongated arcuate guide member 2 5 is secured above the base member, it having depending struck out ears 23 adapted for vertical sliding movement relative to the ears 22 of the base member, by reason of being secured to the pins 24. A pair of slide members 21 and 28, having arcuate slide portions 29 and 3|, respectively, of substantially the same contour as, and adapted for sliding movement over, the arcuate guide member 25, are secured to the latter by fasteners 32 extending through transverse slots 33 in the guide member, the fasteners extending into retaining plates 34 which thereby move with the slide members but upon the inner face of the guide member.

It will be noted that the arcuate slide portions 29 and 3| are offset relative to one another, longitudinally of the arcuate guide member, in order that each may have a range of movement across the full width of the guide member. At the outer or free edges of the members 21 and 28, cover members 35 are each attached by means of a hinge pin 36. Stop members 31 are secured to each of the covers adjacent the hinged edges thereof and are adapted for abutment with binder post bars 38 and 40, respectively, which support binder prongs 39 and 4|. The binder post bar 4|! is provided with a slot 42 for receiving the shank of a fastener 43 which extends into the slide member 28. Because of this connection, the binder prongs 4| and the bar 40 may be moved longitudinally within the limits of the slot 42 to vary the spacing between adjacent prongs 39 and 4|, these prongs normally being in staggered relation as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

By reason of the structure so far recited, it will be understood that the binder may be moved from the position shown in Fig. '7 to that in Fig. 6, that is, by moving the cover members 35 about their hinge axes to cause the stop members 31 to abut the binder post bars and by continuing this movement the slide members 21, 29 and 28, 3| will slide over the arcuate surface of the member 25 to bring the prongs 39 and 4| into a full overlapped position shown in Fig. 6, it being understood that by full overlapped position is meant fully closed position and not that the binder prongs necessarily overlap for their entire length. By allowing the slide members to drop to a supporting surface as shown in Fig. 7, sliding upon the surface of the member 25, the binder prongs 39 and 4| will assume the partially overlapped position, in which suflicient freedom of movement is provided for the loose leaves, such as those indicated at 44 in Fig. 1, to be readily examined. By elevating the arcuate guide member 25 and the pin 24, the latter moving upwardly in the slots 23 of the flanges 22 of the base member to the position shown in Fig. 8 and the slide members 21 and 28 remaining upon the supporting surface, the post members 39 and 4| will be brought to open or spaced apart position, as shown in Fig, 8, thus enabling the insertion of additional sheets over the prongs or removal of sheets from them.

In order to control the movements of the slide members 21 and 28, an actuator bar 50 is provided. It is adapted to rest and slide upon the base plate 28, and have a handle 5| extending between upright end flange portions 52 of the base member 28 which partially close the end of the binder body, the opposite end of the binder body being fully closed by an upright flange of the base 20 indicated at 53. The actuator member 55 has a plurality of slots 54 that are formed with enlarged ends 55 and the latter are adapted to receive inturned struck out guide earsjifi formed on the base member 20, the enlarged portions of the slots being adapted to pass the ears during assembly or disassembly of the device. The reduced portions 54 of the slots are of insufficient width to pass the inturned portions of the ears 56 thereby preventing displacement of the member 50 from the plate member 20 when the device is assembled while permitting sliding movement of the member 50 relative to the base member.

A pair of stop members 51 at each end of the operating bar 50 are adapted for abutment with cam lugs 10, which depend from the retaining plates 34 secured to the slide members 21 and 28, when the slide members are in the relative position to the base member and to the actuating or operating bar member depicted in Figs. 4 and 5. The bar 50 has a pair of upstanding flanges 58 at each end thereof provided with elongated horizontal upper and lower slot portions 59 and 60, respectively, connected by inclined cam slot portions 6|. The pins 24 pass through the slots as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 so that, when the slide is in the position shown in Fig. 4, the pins are disposed in the portions 60 of the slots, thus retaining the arcuate guide member 25 in lowered position. As the bar 50 is moved outwardly, or to the left as viewed in Fig. 3, the pin will pass through the inclined cam portions 6| of the slots, elevating the arcuate guide member to the position shown in Figs. 3 and 8.

A cup 64, slidably supported in a loop 65 secured to the base member or back member 20, is backed by a resilient spring member 66 and the slide member has an upstanding flange 61 at the inner end thereof for abutment With the cup 64. The bar 59 is therefore normally retained slightly spaced from its extreme inward position in which the closed ends of the slot portions 60 abut the pins 24.

When the slide is in the normal position depicted in Figs. 4 and 5 the stops 51 will abut the outer surfaces or edges of the cam lugs 10 to retain the slide members in the position shown in Fig. 6. As the slide member is moved inwardly, or to the right as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4, against the yieldable resistance of the spring 66, the stops 51 will be moved beyond the cam lugs 10, allowing the slide members 21 and 28 to drop by gravity to the position shown in Fig. 7 wherein the cam lugs 10 abut enlargements 69 formed on the back member 20. When pressure upon the slide member is released, the spring 66 will immediately return the bar 50 to the normal position shown in Figs. 4 and 5, but the stop lugs 10 will then be out of the path of the stop members 51 on the slide so that the device will remain in the partially open position depicted in Fig. '7. If the cover members 35 now be moved together, such movement will cause the lugs 1|], which are angularly disposed as shown in Fig. 5, to pass over and engage the edges of the stop members 51, moving them inwardly against the urge of the spring 66 until the outer edges of the lugs 10 pass beyond the stop members, at which time the spring will move the slide outwardly to its normal position to cause the stop lugs 10 to again latch between the stop members 51 to retain the binder in the position shown in Fig. 6.

When the binder is in the condition shown in Fig. '7 and the member 50 is moved outwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3, the pins 24 are lifted upwardly by reason of the inclined slots 6|, the pins being guided vertically by the slots 23, so that the arcuate member 25 is elevated to the position shown inFig. 8, carrying with it the arcuate slide members 29 and 3|.

"member, the members 21 and 28 may .move

downwardly by gravity until they abut a supporting surface as shown in Fig. 8. In this position the prongs 39 and 4| are spaced apart to permit of the removal or insertion of loose leaves.

In operation it will thus be understood that the device may be opened to a partially open position in which the prongs 39 and 4| are partially overlapped as shown in Fig. '7, by pressing the handle 5| inwardly. If it is then desired to fully .open the binder or to spread apart the prongs 39 and 4| in the position shown in Fig. 8, this may be done by pulling the handle 5| outwardly as shown in full lines in Fig. 3. When it is desired to close the binder, it being in the partially open position shown in Fig. 7, this may be accomplished by grasping the cover members 35 and moving them about their hinged axes toward one another. In closing the binder from the position shown in Fig. 8, the slide 53 is first moved to the inner position shown in Fig. 4 and then the operation just described is repeated. Such movement will cause the stop members 3'! on the covers to abut the binder bars38 and 4D and if continued, the members 21 and 28 will move with, as parts of, the cover members, such movement being guided by the arcuate surface of the member 25. When the covers have reached the position shown in Fig. 6, the cam members 10 will latch behind the stop members 51, as has previously been described, to retain the binder in the closed position shown in Fig. 6.

It will also be understood that if it is desired to shift the leaves 44, or some of them, this may be done by bringing the binder to the position shown in Fig. 8, or the open position, and then moving the binder bar 40 longitudinally of the binder, the fastener 43 moving in the slot 42, to bring the leaves to be shifted into the desired position.

It will be further understood that the specific embodiment herein described is merely illustrative of the principles of the invention and that these principles may be incorporated in other devices having different structural characteristics and arrangements without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a binder, an arcuate guide member, a prong carrying slide member mounted to slide upon an arcuate surface of the guide member between closed and open positions, means operable to confine movement of the slide member within the predetermined limits of closed and partially open positions, and cooperating parts operable to support said guide member and slide member in position whereby said slide member may move to full open position uncontrolled by said means.

2. In a binder, an arcuate guide member, a prong carrying slide member mounted to slide upon an arcuate surface of the guide member between closed and. open positions, means operable to confine movement of the slide member between closed and partially open positions, and independent meansto render the first-mentioned 'means inoperative and support said guide and slide members for relative movement of the slide member to full open position.

3. In a binder, a back member, an arcuate guide member slidably connected to the back member for vertical movement relative thereto,

prong carrying slide membersmounted for sliding movement upon the guide member between closed and open positions, said back member abutting the slide members when the guide memher is in lowered position to limit the movement of. the slide member to movements between partially open and closed positions, and means cooperating with said back and guide members to move said members apart to support said slide members for movement into full open position.

4. In a binder, a back member, an arcuate guide member mounted for movement toward and away from the back member, a prong carrying slide member mounted for sliding movement upon an arcuate surface of the guide member, an actuator member mounted for movement relative to the back member, said actuator member having cam means for moving the guide member away from the back member when the actuator member is moved in one direction and allowing return of the guide member toward the back member when moved in the opposite direction, said back member restricting movement of the slide member upon the guide member when the latter is moved toward the back member.

5. In a binder, a back member having guide means extending upwardly therefrom, a guide member mounted for movement in said guide means, and an actuator member movable longitudinally of the back member having cam means engaging parts of the guide member operable upon longitudinal movement of the actuator member to move the guide member upwardly from the back member.

6. In a binder, an arcuate guide member, a prong carrying slide member mounted upon the guide member for sliding movement upon an arcuate surface thereof between open and closed positions, a back member movable toward and away from the guide member, said back member engaging parts of the slide member for limiting movement of the slide member to movement between closed and partially open positions when the back and guide members are together, an actuator member for moving the guide and back members apart to allOW the slide member to move to open position, said actuator member having means thereon for latching the slide member in closed position.

7. In a binder, a guide member having an arcuate surface and depending flanges, a back member having upright flanges telescoping said depending flanges, said upright flanges having vertical slots therein, a pin extending through the depending flanges and engaging in said slots, an actuator member mounted for longitudinal movement in a direction axial of the arcuate surface and transversely of said slots, said actuator member having upright flanges having upwardly and rearwardly inclined slots engaging said pin whereby forward movement of the actuator bar will elevate the guide member with respect to the back member, a prong carrying slide member mounted on the guide member and movable over the arcuate surface thereof between open and closed positions, cam means carried by the slide member engageable with the back member when the guide member is lowered to retain the slide member in partially open position, said actuator member having latch means engageable with the cam means when the actuator member is in normal position and the slide member is in closed position, and resilient means for acting upon the actuator member to return it to a normal position when it is moved rear- :wardly from the normal position, said latch mea'ns releasing the cam means when the actuator is moved rearwardlyito allow the. slide member to move toipartially open position, andsaid guide member being raisable by forward movement of the actuator member to allow the slide member to move to open position.

8. In a binder, a guide member having an arcuate surface'and depending flanges, aback member having upright flanges telescoping said depending flanges, said upright flanges having vertical slots therein, a pin extending through the depending flanges and engaging in said slots,

an actuator member mounted for longitudinal movement in a'direction axial of the arcuate surface "and transversely of'said slots, said actuator member having upright flanges'having upwardly and rearwardly inclined slots engaging said pin whereby forward movement of the actuator bar will elevate the guide member with respect to the back member, a prong carrying slide member mounted on the guide member and movable over the arcuate surface thereof between open and closed positions, cam means carried by the slide member engageable with the back member when the guide member is lowered to retain the slide member in partially open position, said actuator member having latch means engageable with the cam means when the actuator member is in normal position and the slide member is in closed position, said latch means releasing the cam operable to move'said .guidemember and'back member'relativeto each other. I

10. A loose leaf binder, comprising-a :back

member, a guide member connected to thexback member for relative movement toward'and away from the back member, prong carrying slide members mounted on the guide member for sliding movement between open and closed positions, and *an actuatormember for moving said guide member relative to saidback member and for "controlling movement of said slide'members.

11. A loose leaf binder, comprising a back member, an arcuate guide member on said back member, prong carrying slide members mounted for sliding movement transversely on said guide member to open and closed positions, and an actuator member slidably mounted on said back member andoperable to control movement of said slide members.

12. A loose leaf binder, comprising a back member, awcurved guide member connected to said back member for movement relative thereto,

prong carrying slide members mounted on the guide member for relative sliding movement into open and closed positions, and an actuator member slidable on said back member, for operating and controlling operation of said guide and slide members.

1'3..A loose leaf binder, comprising a back member, a curved guide member connected to said back member for relative movement toward "and away'from the back member, prong carrying slide members formed of sheet metal strips arranged in substantially: perpendicularrelation to said guide member and having slide portions thereon slidably connected tosaid guide member, and an actuator member connected to said back,

guide and slide members for operating and controlling relative movement of said members whereby. the slide members may be moved to an open position beyond the edges of said guide member.

BENJAMIN G. RAND. 

